Earl was a jack of all trades. Even though he never received his licence in any trade, he was skilled at many things. He was a part of the Great Lakes Freightliners with Algosoo, and also worked at the Collingwood Shipyards. Earl sailed many of the Great Lakes, however he was terrified of the water! If he was in a canoe and it tipped, he would flail his arms and get to dry land as soon as he could! Earl had a gift of working well with his hands. He renovated a cube trailer into a mini house and was always tinkering. Earl taught himself every skill he learned in his life from plumbing, electrical, to most recently teaching himself how to play guitar. He enjoyed singing, using music to tell a story, and he especially liked sitting around the campfire playing his guitar. Earl loved the sense of thrill and adventure. If something was a challenge, he was always willing to take the risk and live on the edge, even though it would often end in injury. Earl loved outdoor adventures and horses. He enjoyed breaking the horses so that they could be used on a farm, and bronco riding.
Although he didn’t go to church as much in recent years, Earl’s faith in God helped him through many ups and downs in his life. He had very strong morals. Earl was dedicated to his loving wife Ruth and instilled in his children to be survivors at a young age. When his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren were born, he had a new found energy for life and loved to lay on the floor and play with them for hours. In recent years when he was diagnosed with Dementia, Earl moved closer to where he was born and raised, living in Glen Huron with his son Mike and his grandson Byran. Mike made many sacrifices to take care of Earl, providing constant 24/7 care for the last three years. Mike was driven by the thoughts and strength of his mom to provide care for Earl.
Russel “Earl” Weatherall of Glen Huron, passed away at home on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, in his 92nd year.
Father of Sharon (Ray) Stewart of Sprauge, MB, Debbie (Harold) Young of Cargill, Mike of Glen Huron, John (Kylee Grasley) of Echo Bay, and Paul (Suzanne) of Walkerton. Proud and loving grandpa of Dan, Terry, Kerri, Mike, Barry, Becky, April, Cindy, Bryan, Shane, Scott, Carmen, Derek, Brad, Steve, Kyle, Dylan, Kierra, and Bailey. Cherished great-grandpa of 33 and great-great-grandpa of 8. Dear brother of Hazel (late Walter) Tricco, Helen (late Merv) Campbell, Ken (Linda) Weatherall, and brother-in-law of Elizabeth Weatherall and Joan Weatherall. Earl will be missed by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Ruth (Micks), his grandson Shaun Bushell, great-grandson Nathaniel Bushell, his brothers Gord, Nelson (Dorothy), Bob, Morley (Lillian), his sister Alice (Bill) Lockhart, and his parents Carmen and Eveline (Rawn) Weatherall.
A funeral service honouring Earl’s life will be held at Rhody Family Funeral Home, Chesley on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 11 a.m., with visitation prior to the service from 10 – 11 a.m. Spring interment in Walkerton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Wes for Youth Online, Cure SMA Canada (Spinal Muscular Atrophy), Diabetes Canada, or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
